The pituitary gland is connected to the ventral surface of the brain, adjacent to the hypothalamus.
The hormones secreted by anterior pituitary:
1. Growth Hormone (GH): Stimulates growth.
Function:
1. Growth hormone maintains body structure, metabolism, and supports brain and organ tissue health.
2. Widely used in medicine for treating growth disorders in children and hormone deficiency in adults.
3. Enhances growth, regulates body fluids, fat metabolism, and contributes to increased energy levels, but its misuse in sports has led to bans by NCAA and IOC.
2. Prolactin (PRL): Regulates mammary gland growth and milk formation.
Function:
1. Facilitates fetal lung development and controls osmolality, while playing a key role in the synthesis of steroid hormones and initiating/maintaining lactation.
2. Promotes ductal growth in breasts, contributes to milk protein synthesis, and influences metabolism of subcutaneous fat, carbohydrates, calcium, and Vitamin D, enhancing reproductive functions in males.
3. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Stimulates synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones.
Function:
It plays a crucial role in governing thyroid hormone production, regulating body metabolism, maintaining temperature, providing muscle strength, and influencing mood.
4. Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH): Stimulates synthesis and secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex.
Function:
1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone prompts adrenal glands to release cortisol, a hormone with diverse effects on various organs and tissues.
2. While commonly known as the “stress hormone,” cortisol plays vital roles beyond stress regulation, impacting multiple functions throughout the body.
5.gonadotrophins
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): Gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland produce luteinizing hormone (LH), with its production regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. In females, the abrupt increase in LH, referred to as an LH surge, initiates ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH):FSH, a glycoprotein polypeptide hormone categorized as a gonadotropin, is produced and released by the gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in governing body development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes.